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The objective of this presentation is to promote the development of a book to help development agents in developing (and developed) countries to better understand what is involved in the management of complex adaptive systems. The problem relates to linked rural poverty and environmental sustainability, though this can be solved through adaptive management for small holder innovation by providing development agents with knowledge and understanding to assist small holder innovation for adaptive management of complex adaptive systems (CAS). The objective is to encourage policy makers and donors to support local innovation and adaptive management. ME (Management Entity)

Metadata only record This website offers several videos that provide in-depth information about different aspects of sustainable agriculture. Below is a list of the videos:

Provides a basic understanding of the principles of solar energy systems, including uses, limitations, material selection, and design practices. Reprinted Originally published February 1979

The last few decades have seen an explosion in population growth and along with this growth we have also witnessed an increase in demand for products. Although our resources are limited, consumers' needs know no bounds. It is not surprising that we are also increasingly demanding more from our environment. It is therefore imperative that we make better use of our resources and reassess how we construe a product's lifecycle. Instead of a linear perspective, which typically follows a product's lifecycle from mining of raw materials to manufacturing, but then stops when products are trashed, we need to use a circular perspective, where we focus on the entire lifecycle of products, from not just manufacturing to usage, but also from usage to creation of new products through recycling. The focus of this dissertation is on understanding two important processes in the circular economy: that of usage and disposal. I focus on the role that consumers' product valuations play in these processes. In essay 1, I show that consumers value products made from recycled materials more than comparable regular products. I also document why this happens and demonstrate how this affects usage. In essay 2, I investigate the relationship between reuse and product disposal. The circular economy is based on what is now referred to as the 3R approach: reduce, reuse, and recycle. However, I show that consumers are more (vs. less) likely to trash products that they have used extensively (vs. rarely). This then leads to a conundrum: if we encourage consumers to reuse products extensively, it appears that they are more likely to trash them. It is therefore imperative that we understand this relationship better and find interventions to mitigate this negative relationship. Doctor of Philosophy The last few decades have seen an explosion in population growth and along with this growth we have also witnessed an increase in demand for products. To create a more sustainable world, it is imperative that we move towards a more circular economy, where we not only minimize waste, but also find ways to extract more use from our resources. One way to do this is to find ways to reuse products after they have reached the end of their lifecycle. The focus of this dissertation is on understanding two important processes in the circular economy: that of usage and disposal (essentially addressing questions about what to do with products that we no longer have a need for). I primarily focus on the role that consumers' product valuations play in influencing these processes. In essay 1, I study how consumers feel about products made from recycled materials. I find that consumers are willing to pay more for products made from recycled materials compared with products made from regular raw materials. The higher willingness to pay emerges because consumers value the process that transforms the recycled materials into brand new products. I also show that this valuation impacts use: consumers use products made from recycled materials more judiciously. In essay 2, I investigate the relationship between product usage and disposal. I find that when consumers use a product more extensively, they are more likely to trash the product compared with other forms of reuse, such as, disposing in the recycling bin, giving it to others, or reselling it. This effect emerges because when consumers use a product more frequently, they believe that the product has less value remaining for others, and a product that confers lower value to others should be trashed.

The point absorber is one of the most popular types of ocean wave energy converter (WEC) that harvests energy from the ocean. Often such a WEC is deployed in an ocean location with tidal currents or ocean streams, or serves as a mobile platform to power the blue economy. The shape of the floating body, or buoy, of the point absorber type WEC is important for the wave energy capture ratio and for the current drag force. In this work, a new approach to optimize the shape of the point absorber buoy is developed to reduce the ocean current drag force on the buoy while capturing more energy from ocean waves. A specific parametric modeling is constructed to define the shape of the buoy with 12 parameters. The implementation of neural networks significantly reduces the computational time compared to solving hydrodynamics equations for each iteration. And the optimal shape of the buoy is solved using a genetic algorithm with multiple self-defined functions. The final optimal shape of the buoy in a case study reduces 68.7% of current drag force compared to a cylinder-shaped buoy, while maintaining the same level of energy capture ratio from ocean waves. The method presented in this work has the capability to define and optimize a complex buoy shape, and solve for a multi-objective optimization problem. Master of Science The marine kinetic energy includes ocean waves power, tidal power, ocean current power, ocean thermal power and river power. The total potential marine kinetic energy in 2021 is 2300 TWh/year, where 1400 TWh/year is from the ocean wave power. To discover and harvest the huge potential power from the marine, researchers have been developed for different types of WECs for several decades. One of the most successful concepts is the point absorber typed WEC, which can extract waver energy from the heaving vibration motion of a floating body and convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy. This thesis presents an optimization strategy to optimize the shape of the floating body to improve power extraction and reduce the installation cost by implementing the machine learning tool and genetic algorithm. Compared with the state-of-the-art optimization strategies, the proposed optimization method allows the floating body to have more parameters in shape changes and reduces the computational cost from minutes to milliseconds. The final optimized floating body shape performs extraordinarily compared to the other two state-of-the-art floating body shapes.

Spanning 14 states in the northeast United States, the Appalachian Trail (AT) is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, with thousands of individuals attempting to thru-hike the AT every year. For its scenic views and accessibility from the cities, the AT is experiencing a record number of visitors raising concerns about the sustainability of the trail. Many trail organizations manage the AT to reduce the visitor impact on the outdoors. In this research, I study the role of information and communication technologies in promoting collaboration between these trail agencies and visitors. I identify the need for a formal communication channel between the stakeholders by examining the existing information-sharing practices of hikers and trail managers through social media analysis, interviews, and a design workshop. I present the design of an online discussion platform, the SmarTrail board, and conduct a field usability study with two AT trail clubs to evaluate the platform. Findings from the study reveal that centralized direct communication and streamlined information can support trail management on the AT by promoting collaboration within the trail community. The research paves the path for future research into the design of ICTs for driving nature conservation goals. Master of Science The Appalachian Trail (AT) in the northeast of the United States spreads across 14 states. It is accessible from many regional urban centers, offering recreational opportunities to thousands of individuals every year. It is also a popular site for thru-hiking, an endeavor to hike the trail from end to end in a year. Such popularity and accessibility to the trail put pressure on the natural resources, raising concerns about the sustainability of the trail. Management of the trail deals with minimizing the resource impact while preserving the trail experiences of the visitors. Thirty trail clubs maintain separate sections of the AT, and a number of trail organizations work together to manage the trail. The core of this management relies on the collaboration of these trail agencies with each other and the visitors. As communication is central to collaborations in everyday life and for the trail, I explore the practices and possibilities for information sharing and communication on the AT. Digital conservation refers to the technological developments that support and forward nature conservation goals. As the pristine environment of the trails and the AT are not barred from the reach of digital technology, the prevalence of smartphones among visitors presents opportunities for information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support the digital conservation of the trail. In this research, I study digital technology use among hikers and trail managers on the AT, particularly for information sharing. By analyzing comments on Reddit, conducting interviews with the AT trail managers, and organizing a workshop with long-distance hikers, I highlight the need for direct communication between these stakeholders. I present the design of an online discussion board called the SmarTrail platform as a formal communication channel between hikers and trail managers and evaluate it with two trail clubs on the AT. The results from the evaluation offer several use cases of mediated communication, highlighting its need and potential in supporting trail management on the AT. Centralized and formal communication can lead to effective trail management by engaging visitors in trail management, improving volunteer management for the clubs, and enabling knowledge sharing and coordination between the trail agencies. With design considerations for improving human-nature interaction and simplifying the available information for visitors and trail management authorities, this study informs the design of ICTs for trail environments that would forward the digital conservation goals on the AT.

Ni-rich layered oxide materials have gained significant attention due to the ongoing advances and demands in energy storage. The energy revolution continues to catapult the need for improved battery materials, especially for applications in portable electronic devices and electric vehicles. Lithium batteries are at the frontier of energy storage. Due to geopolitical concerns, there is a growing need to understand the chemistries of Co-free, Ni-rich layered oxide materials which are cost-efficient and possess increased practical capacity. The challenge to studying this class of materials is their inherent electronic and structural fragility. The fragility of these materials is facilitated by a cooperation of metal cation migration, lattice oxygen loss, and undesirable oxide cathode-electrolyte interfacial reactions. Each of these phenomena contribute to complex electrolyte decomposition pathways and oxide cathode structural distortions. Structural instability leads to poor battery performance metrics including specific capacity fading and decreased Coulombic efficiency. Electrolyte decomposition occurs at the oxide cathode surface, but it can lead to bulk electronic and structural changes, chemomechanical breakdown, and irreversible phase transformations in the material. The work in this dissertation focuses on understanding some of the chemistries associated with degradation of representative Ni-rich layered oxides, specifically LiNiO2 (LNO) and LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC) (where x+y+z =1) materials. Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive review of the interfacial chemistries of fragile, Ni-rich layered oxide materials with carbonate-based liquid electrolytes. These reactions are key in deducing mechanistic pathways that promote thermal runaway. Uncontrollable oxygen loss and electrolyte oxidation leads to catastrophic battery fires and explosions. The chapter highlights the material properties that become perturbed during high states-of-charge which complicate the materials chemistry associated with Ni-rich layered oxides. Lastly, a few strategies to mitigate undesired, structurally detrimental reactions at the Ni-rich layered oxide cathode surface are provided in Chapter 1. To obtain the technical data detailed in this dissertation, a variety of analytical methods are employed. Chapter 2 introduces the working principles of the X-ray techniques, electron microscopy, and other quantification methods. X-ray techniques including synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and its components XANES and EXAFS are discussed. Other X-ray techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are additionally included. Electron microscopy techniques, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) are provided. Quantification methods, such as gas chromatography – flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and other electrochemical testing methods are also described. Detailed experimental information obtained using the analytical methods is provided in the technical chapters. In understanding the chemistry of Ni-rich layered oxides, exploring surface reconstruction is key. Surface reconstruction, a phenomenon caused by a collaboration between Li/Ni cation intermixing and lattice oxygen loss, is one of the major explanations for structural degradation in Ni-rich layered oxide materials. Chapter 3 explores surface reconstruction and deduces a mechanism by which lattice oxygen is loss in LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622). By exploiting Li+ intercalation chemistry, the work emulates various states-of-charge to explore how delithiation impacts small, organic molecule oxidation. Benzyl alcohol serves as a good probing molecule. It is similar to an oxidizable, nonaqueous electrolytic species that undergoes oxidation at the oxide cathode surface. Structure-reactivity trends are defined to correlate electronic and structural changes, lattice oxygen loss, and small molecule oxidation. After studying a proxy molecule, a practical system is required to grasp the complexity of the cathode-electrolyte interfacial reactions that promote Ni-rich layered oxide degradation. In Chapter 4, an electrolyte stirring experiment is described. Stirring experiments provide an accelerated testing method which helps to deduce the influences of chemical electrolyte decomposition on structural degradation of LiNiO2 (LNO). X-ray techniques are used to illustrate electronic perturbations and structural distortions in the material after probing with EC/DMC w/w 3:7 LiPF6. Additionally, this dissertation chapter features a novel voltage oscillation experiment that is employed to quantify Ni-rich oxide cathode degradation at the phase transition regions. LNO has three charging plateaus – H1 ïƒ M, M ïƒ H2, and H2 ïƒ H3. The latter two plateaus have been largely associated with irreversible structural fragility in Ni-rich layered oxides. Cation intermixing and oxygen loss are two phenomena that are largely associated with decreased Li+ intercalation kinetics and increased undesired side reactions. Although researchers debate the chemical phenomenon that occur at each of the phase transitions, most agree that the H2 ïƒ H3 transition is highly influenced by irreversible lattice oxygen loss. This dissertation chapter describes the studies used to explore the electronic changes and structural distortions that accompany the voltage oscillation electrochemical testing. While Ni-rich layered oxides are largely employed as lithium battery cathodes, this class of material is unique in that it is a reducible and electronically tunable. Electronically modifiable metal oxide materials provide a unique platform to lend information to other applications, such as catalysis. There is much debate surrounding the role of metal oxides on metal nanocatalyst performance for catalytically reductive pathways. Chapter 5 discusses the method of employing LiNiO2 and other NMC materials as electronically tunable metal oxides to determine the role of the reducible metal oxide support on the gold (Au) nanocatalyst for p-nitrophenol reduction to p-aminophenol. By obtaining a continuum of nickel (Ni) oxidation states using delithiation strategies, structural-activity relationship trends are provided. Conversion rates for each of the delithiated materials was calculated using pseudo first-order kinetics. Lastly, a detailed discussion on metal oxide reducibility and its influences on key mechanistic factors, such as the induction period is included. Chapter 6 in this dissertation provides conclusions for the technical work provided. It bridges the works together and describes the overarching findings associated with the chemistries of Ni-rich layered oxide materials. This dissertation lays the foundation for future experimentation and innovation in understanding the surface chemistry of Ni-rich layered oxides. Chapter 7 provides future perspectives for each of the technical works included herein. Additionally, the final chapter includes insights toward the future of lithium batteries and other cathode chemistries. As the world navigates the energy revolution, it is important to provide global perspectives expected to catapult a sustainable future with batteries towards a greener world. Doctor of Philosophy Rechargeable lithium batteries have gained a significant surge of interest due to the ongoing demands for portable electronic devices, as well as the global trend towards electric vehicles to decrease the carbon footprint. Lithium batteries reside at the pinnacle of the energy transition. Layered oxide materials are typically employed as the cathode in Li-ion batteries. Ni-rich layered oxides have gained much interest due to their low cost and good charge/discharge capabilities. As consumers want increased charging rates and longer lifetimes, researchers struggle to optimize the balance between incorporating Ni-rich cathodes and increased safety concerns caused by cathode structural fragility. The lack of structural robustness is largely due to the surface reactivity of Ni-rich layered oxide materials. Bonding arrangements and electron transfer pathways intrinsic to this class of material increases the complexity in understanding the surface chemistry and the associated degradation pathways. Oxygen loss is the major cause of the safety issues in lithium batteries such as battery fires and explosions. To mitigate the safety concerns, it is imperative to understand the chemistries that promote organic, liquid electrolyte decomposition, electronic and structural changes, chemomechanical breakdown, and irreversible phase transformations. Each of these components leads to decreased battery performance. The work in this dissertation describes model and practical platforms to probe and understand the chemistries associated with battery performance degradation. A variety of analytical methods were utilized to determine overall structure-activity relationship trends and are highlighted in Chapter 2. Chapters 3-5 is technical research providing insight on Ni-rich layered oxide degradation pathways and behaviors. The work advances the understanding of battery surface chemistry which will lead to improved cathode design. As batteries continue to grow, it is important to know other applications that benefit from the unique chemistry of Ni-rich layered oxide materials. By exploiting the lithium battery cathode chemistry, this dissertation highlights a method to utilize these materials to understand the role of metal oxides on Au nanocatalysts. Conclusions to the findings in this dissertation are provided in Chapter 6. Future perspectives on the technical research provided herein this dissertation is included in Chapter 7. Additionally, Chapter 7 details future perspectives for lithium batteries and how they can facilitate the global transition toward a sustainable future.

Completed as a series of manuscripts, this dissertation reflects four aspects of my research into the intersections of conservation and sustainable development as practiced by conservation land trusts and community landcare groups, as well as by faculty and staff at land grant universities. The first paper included in this dissertation explores "Conservation 2.0" strategies being developed and employed by land trust across the US to integrate social and economic development goals into their conservation missions. The second paper explores one of these Conservation 2.0 strategies in greater detail, in particular the support of ecological entrepreneurship by land trusts and partners they involve in "ecological entrepreneurship support networks". The third piece emerged out of five years of engaged research with Catawba Landcare as one community landcare group in the region. As a means to capture the development path and history of the organization as well as to facilitate its path forward, I developed a dynamic content management system (CMS) based website for the group, which is explained in Chapter 4. The fourth and final piece of this dissertation is a collaboratively written piece that examines the relationship between Catawba Landcare and Virginia Tech using four theoretical lenses for community capacity building, ultimately proposing one engagement strategy for land grant universities to build and strengthen social infrastructure in their neighboring communities. In total, this collection of works chronicles a larger endeavor to explore place-based sustainability and the role of institutions and civil society in constructing a more sustainable future. Ph. D.

Metadata only record This book is a collection of papers presented at a workshop titled 'Listening to the people: social aspects of dryland management,' held in Nairobi, Kenya, 14-18 December 1993. The event was organized by the Desertification Control Programme Activity Centre of UNEP to develop a better understanding of community participation and bottom-up development. A primary goal of the workshop was to formulate recommendations of what needs to be done to achieve sustainable development in the drylands. A prerequisite for the success of any intervention affecting a local community is that the planners recognize the institutions, systems of indigenous knowledge and management structures that already exist. The papers and discussions of the workshop analyse the experiences of over three decades of attempts by governments, donor agencies and non-governmental organizations to promote economic development in the drylands of developing countries. Six sections of the book cover: (1) the social dimensions and concepts of desertification; (2) participatory approaches and methods related to development of the drylands; (3) social aspects of dryland management; (4) indigenous knowledge; (5) gender issues in natural resource management; and (6) the importance of government policies in dryland management. (CAB Abstracts)

Metadata only record The integration of environmental conservation with economic development has historically faced considerable challenges. Convincing poor rural farmers to adopt new technologies requires a high degree of trust, support and accountability between farmers and implementers. Based on the principles of Analog Forestry and Community-based Ecosystem Management, Counterpart International and its partners implement the Forest Garden Programme to provide economically viable and environmentally sound opportunities for raising rural incomes, restoring degraded land, and preserving native biodiversity through community-led management of watersheds, forests and agricultural lands. This study focuses on the participation of Sri Lankan farmers in the programme. Success of the programme, rates of adoption of and withdrawal from the programme, as well as its long-term sustainability are highly dependent on project implementers' ability to reduce risk and make substantial functional linkages between farmers and their fledgling Forest Garden-based enterprises as well as their sustainable use and stewardship of their natural resources. Available in SANREM office, FS